Boll-weevil exterminator.



0. V. STU BBS. BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATOR'. APPLICATION F'ILED JUNE 30. I917- Paten ted June 11, 1918.

5.SHEETSSHEET 1- 0. V. STUBBS. BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATOR. APPLICATION FILED wuzso, 1911.

1 ,Q69,33&., Patented June 11, 1918.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

()QV STUBBS. BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 1911.

Patented June 11, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3- evb i mQ Q Q. 5* mm 9% i N.

0. V. STUBBS.

sou W EEVIL EXTERMINATOR. I APPLIJCATJON FILED JUNE 30. 1917. I 1 9@9 Patented June 11, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

V canon vsrnnns, or BUDA, TEXAS.

BoLL-wnnvIL EXTEBMINATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June ill, 1918.

Application filed June30, 1917. Serial No. 177,848.

To cZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ounce VIRGIL Srnnes, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buda, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boll-VVeevil Exterminators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to a machine for exterminating boll weevils and the primary object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type employing air suction for drawing the boll weevils and infected squares into a suitable retaining box from which the weevils and infected squares may be re moved for destruction and further to provide a pair ofhingedly mounted spring controlled plates which ride over the surface of the ground alongside the rows of plants for iminating to a great extent the drawing of loose dirt upwardly 1nto the machine by the airsuction.

it. furth r ob ect of th1s invention is to i provide means for adjusting the vertical position of the hingedly mounted spring controlled plates so that when the machine is not in use, these plates may be moved upwardly out of the ground engaging position.

Another object of the invention isto provide a machine as specified, the main body of which forms an .air suction chamber which passes over the cotton plants during the travel of the machinaand while over the plants subjects them to an air suction from a rotary fan which positioned upon the top of the main body and which is operated through the medium of a plurality of gears, by the travel of the machine and further to pr vide a removable weevil infected squaiu receiving member which is :ioned alongside of the suction fan, so that the weevils and infected squares drawn upwardly by the fan action will be guided into the retaining box or compartment from which they may be removed through an or dinary doocand also to provide a novel form ofrotary valve for cutting on the passsage of communication between the air suc tion chamber and the weevil retaining compartment when it is desired to remove the col 3: nent', and which valve is constructed for iorming a guide to guide the weevils and squares into the compartment when the latter is in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved boll. weevil exterminator,

Fi 2 is a top plan view of the exterminator with the seat removed,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the exterminator on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig 4L is a rear elevation of the exterminator,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the exterminator on the line of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a detail bottom plan of a part of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the suction means of the exterminator,

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the gearing for controlling the suction mechanism of the exterminator,

Fig. 8 is a detail section through the hub of the supporting wheel of the machine,

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, and V i Fig. 10 is a detail perspective of the valve construction controlling the passage of the boll weevils and infected squares into the retaining receptacle, showing the latter in dotted lines. Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal section through a part of Fig. 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the supporting axle of the boll weevil machine which is of the arch type and has the wheel carrying spindles 2 formed upon each end thereof. The main supporting wheels 3 are mounted upon the spindles 2 and are held thereon by ll-shaped keys 41: which are seated in keyways formed in the end of the hub 6 of the sup porting wheel 3 and in key-ways 7 which are formed in the ends of the spindles 2. The usual type of dust cap 8 is mounted over the end of the hub 6 as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The hubs 6 of the supporting wheels 3 have the driving FEPE'OCliGlQS 9 mounted thereon, as clearly to permit the sprockets to remain stationary for the rearward or reverse rotation of the supporting wheels Sprocket chains 11 travel about the sprockets 9 and about sprockets 12 which are carried by a shaft 13. The shaft'13 is supported by suitable bearings 14 which have right angularly disposed bearing collars 14- formed thereon that are mounted upon the rear end of the bracing rod structure 15. The bracing rod structure 15 is substantially U-shaped, and is attached by means of suitable attaching straps 16 to. the top of the main body of the machine. The rod structure has a tongue 18 of the usual construction connected to the center of the bight portion 19 thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and suitable brace rods 20 are attached to the tongue 18 as shown at 21 and to the top of flanges 2'2 formed upon the lower edges of the sides 22 of the main body of the machine shown at 22. The usual type of draft trees indicated at 23 are carried by the tongue 18 for the purpose of hitching the draft animals thereto. A reinforcing collar 18 is mounted about the inner end of the tongue 18.

The main body of the device forms a suction chamber 17 which has its bottom open while the front side 24 is provided with a cut out portion 25 which allows the device to pass over growing cotton plants. Positioned within the suction chamber 17 directly in rear of the opening 25 is a plant agitator 26 which is mounted upon a suitable shaft or rod 27 and comprises a plate 28 having depending sides 29 which plate strikes the cotton plants and bends them over, causing them to fly up when they are disengaged by the agitator structure 26 and thereby thoroughly shaking the plants well as striking the plant next thereto, to be engaged by the agitator and agitating this plant providing double agitation to the plants for shaking boll weevils, other insects and infected squares therefrom. The rear wall 30 of the main body is provided with an opening 31 that alines with the opening 25; The rear wall of the suction chamber is attached to the side walls 22 and the top 32 by means of flanges 3O formed upon the edges of the rear wall which flanges abut and are attached to the side walls and tops by means of belts or rivets 30".

The suction chamber has communication through an opening 33 formed in the top 32 of the main body with the interior of the fan casing 34 which is supported by a suitable support 34:. The support 34: is constructed of sheet metal or analogous matewithin the casing 3d for creating an air suction. upwardly through the suction chamber 17 and into the compartment 36 of the removable insect receiving receptacle 37. The fan is mounted upon a shaft 38 which extends longitudinally through the casing, 3st andis supported by suitable bearings 39 The bearing 39 has its ends bent and 39. substantially at right angles to the main body thereof as shown at 39 and the resiliency ofthese angled ends cause them to frictionally grip the interior of the circular casing 34 and hold the bearing 39 in place. The shaft 38 has a gear 10 mountedthereon which meshes with a gear 411. The gear ll.

is mounted upon a shaft 42 which extends along the upper surface of the top 32 and is rotatably supported by suitable bearings 43. The shaft 12 has a gear 14 slidably mounted thereon and heldin place by means of a set screw 15 which extends through the elongated hub -16 formed upon the gear. The gear 14 is provided for meshing with either the outermost set of gear teeth 17 or the innermost set of gear teeth -18 which are formed upon one face of the gear 4-9 for regulating the speed of rotation of the shaft 4:2, as desired.

The gear 4:9 is mounted upon the shaft 13 for independent rotation with respect thereto and it has a clutch section formed on the hub thereof which is adapted for coaction with a clutch section 51. The clutch section 51 is carried by a sleeve 52 upon which is mounted a disk 53. The sleeve 52 is feathered upon the shaft 13. A spring 5%: is coiled about the shaft 13 and one end of the spring is connected to the shaft while the other end engages the disk 53 for holding the clutch section 51 into engagement with the clutch section 50 for rotating the shaft t9 by the rotation of the shaft 13. The clutch section 51 is moved out of on gagement with the clutch section 50 through the medium of a pivotally mounted angled lever 55 which has aroller 56 carried by one endof the same. The roller 56 engages one surface of the disk 53, so that upon rocking movement of the angled lever 55 by the longitudinal movement of the rod 57 it will force the clutch section 51 out of engagement with the clutch section 50 and arrest rotation of the gear 19 from the rotation of theshaft 13. The rod 57 is connected to a lever 57 which is pivotally connected to the front 241 of the main body.

The receptacle or casing 37 is provided with a suitable door out of which the insects and infected squares are dumped and it is detachably connected to the fan casing 34: by a overlapping metal strip 61 that overlaps the edge of the rounded portion 62 of the casing. The casing 37 is held in place by. and it rests upon a suitable spring or resilient plate 64: which is suitably connected to the top 32 and has an upstanding por tion 65 formed thereon for limiting the forward movement of the outer rectangular retaining portion 66 of the casing 37. The plate 6% projects rearwardly and upwardly from the rear end of the casing 37, as clearly shown at 68 in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings to provide means for holding the receptacle 37 in place and for guiding its disconnecting movement. The plate 64 has legs 64: formed thereupon which are fastened in any suitable manner to the top 82 of the main body of the boll weevil exterminator. The circular portion 62 of the casing 37 has a rotary valve member 70 mounted therein. The valve member 70 comprises a cylindrical member 71 which has a handle 72 connected thereto for rotating the same, which handle projects through a slot 72 formed in the circular portion 62. The cylindrical member 71 is provided with a cut out portion 73 which is adapted for registration with the mouth of the rectangular portion 66 of the casing 37 for'permitting communication between the circular and rectangular portions of the easing. The circular member 71 has a guiding plate 7e mounted therein which extends throughout the entire length of the cylindrical member and at an incline, as clearly shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the forward end of the plate being secured to the inner surface of the forward end of the cylindrical valve member 71, and extending upwardly therefrom so as to properly guide boll weevils and infected squares upwardly through the cut out portion 73 for passage into the rectangular portion 66 when the valve is open. The cylindrical valve member 71 has communication with the interior of the fan casing 84 so that the current of air generated by the fan will pass upwardly through the main body 17, the fan casing 34:, into the rotary cylindrical valve member 71 wherein it will be deflected or guided by the arcuate plate 74: into the substantially rectangular portion 66 which receives and retains the boll weevils and infected squares until they are removed therefrom through the door 60. The circular portion 62 of the casing 37 is provided with an opening 62 which permits escape of air therefrom, when the valve member 70 is in a closed position.

The substantially rectangular portion 66 of the receptacle 37 has an opening 7 formed in the top of the same which is screened by a suitable screen 77 so as to per mit the air to pass outwardly out of the easing and prevent the insects from passing out of the casing. A guard plate 78 is positioned over one side of the opening 76 for deflecting the air from the seat 79 of the device so that the air blast will not strike the operator of the machine. A pair of plates 80 and 81 are adjustably carried within the main body and they are provided with slots 83 in which guiding members 81 travel. The

guiding members 84 are carried by the sides 22 of the main body.

Runners or angled plates 85 are hingedly connected as shown at 86 to the lower edges of the vertically movable plates 80 and 81. The angled plates 85 include horizontally positioned portions 87 which extend inwardly toward the center of the casing 17 and are provided for moving along each side of a row of cotton plants to prevent the sucking of loose dirt upwardly into the casing or receptacle 37 by the action of the fan 35. Contractile springs 88 are connected to the horizontal portions 87 and to angle iron bars 110 for holding the horizontal portions in their normal position and for returning them Q to their normal position after they have been moved outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings to allow them to pass a rock, root, stump or the like during the travel of the boll weevil exterminating machine. The springs 88 have their upper ends connected to the angle iron bars 110 which-are attached to the inner surfaces of the vertically movable plates 80 and 81. The angle iron bars 110 project below the lower edges of the vertically movable plates 80 and 81 and form stops for limiting the upward movement of horizontal portions 87 of theangle plates 85.

Bars 90 are connected as shown at 91 to the vertically movable plates 80 and 81 and they project upwardly through the top 32. The upper ends of the bars 90 are in turn connected to bars 92 which extend downwardly along the outer surfaces of the sides of the main body and are connected as shown at 93 to segments 94. The segments 94 are mounted uponthe ends of the shaft 27. A hand lever 95 is mounted upon the shaft 27 for rocking the same and for rocking the segments 9% to raise or lower the plates 80 and 81 depending upon the direction in which the lever is moved. The lever 95 has the usual type of dog mechanism 96 carried thereby which coacts with a quadrant 97, for holding the lever 95 in various adjusted positions. A quadrant 97 has collars 97 formed upon theend thereof which collars are mounted upon the rearwardly extending side or legs 15 of the U-shaped member 15.

Suitable braces 98 extend diagonally from the axle 1 near the spindle ends of the same to the rearwardly extending legs of the substantially U-shaped brace 15.

In the operation of the improved machine when entering a field, for exterminating boll weevils and other insects which might infest the cotton, plants,. the gear 4% is first shifted so that it will mesh with either the set 4-7 or the set 48 of teeth, depending, upon the speed, of rotation of the fan 35 desired, and after this adjustment has been: made,the plates SOand 81 are lowered so that the horizontal portions 87 of the hinged angle plates 85 will ride over the surface of the ground alongside the rows of plants, and the lever 72 is operated for permitting communication between the circular and substantially rectangular por- '1 tions oi. the casing 37. The air suction generated by therotation, of the fan. 35 will pass upwardly through the suction chamber 17, into the circular portion 62, from thence into the rectangular portion 66 and outwardly through the opening 76, drawing the bell weevils, other insects and infected squares upwardly into the compartment 66. The air: suction action of the machine isiacilitated in removing the insects and ini'ected squares from the plants by the operation of the agitator 26 which will strike the plants and bend their tops downwardly,shaking them and releasing them so that they will fly back to their normal position which will thoroughly shake, the plants and agitate the plants next thereto, facilitating in the shaking of the boll weevils and infected squares from the plants. The boll weevils and infected squares aswell as other insects may be removed. fromthe receptacle 37 when desired and destroyed in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of construction and of the method of operation of the improved boll weevil exterminator will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and, while in the foregoing description, the principle of the operation of this invention has been described together with various features of construction, it is to be understood that certain minor features of construction, combi nation and arrangement of parts may be altered to suit practical conditions provided such alterations are comprehended within thescope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. ln aboll weevil exterminator, a housing, means for creating an air suction within said housing, and a pair of plates adjustably carried by the sides of said housing and having their lowermost portions bent inwardly at right angles to the sides of the housing for preventing loose dirt from being drawn upwardly into the housin x :2. In a bell weevil exterminator, a housing forming a suction chamber, means for creating an air suction through said chamber,

necessaplates adjustably carried bythe sides of said housing for vertical, adjustment with respect thereto, plates hingedly connected to the lower edges of said vertically adjustable plates for adjustment therewith, said hinged: plates having their lower portions bent at right anglesto the sidesoi' the housing for preventing air suction, from drawing loose dirt upwardly into the housing.

3. In a boll weevil,exterminatona housing forming a suction chamber, means for creating an air suction, through said chamber, platesadjustably carried by the sides of said housing for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, plates hingedly connected to the lower edges oii said vertically adjustable platesiior adjustment therewith, said. hinged plates having their lower portions bent at right angles to the sidesol the housing for preventing air suction from drawing loose dirt upwardly into the housing, and springs connected to said, hinged plates and said adjustable plates for holding the lower angled portions of the hinged plates: in a substantially horizontal plane.

4L. In a boll weevil exterminator, a housing forming a suction chamber, means for creating an air suction through said chamber, platesadj istably carried by the sidesot said housing tor vertical adjustment with respect thereto, plates; hingedly connected to the lower edges of said vertically adjustable platesiior adjustment therewith, said hinged plates having their lower portions, bent at right angles to the sides of thehousing for preventing air suction from drawing loose dint upwardly into the housing, means for holding said lower bent portions in a horr zontal position, and means for limiting the upward hinged, movement of said. hinged: plates,

5, In a boll weevil.exterminator, a housing forming a suction chamber, supporting wheels carried by said housing, means for creating an air suction upwardly through said housing, a receptacle carried by the housing for receiving insects and infectedsquares which; are drawn upwardly by the air suction within the housing, a plate pivotally mounted within said, housing and adapted, to strike cotton plants upon passage of the housing thereover for agitating the plants to shake boll. weevils and infected squares from the plants, plates adjustably carried by, the sides of said housing for vertical adjustment, angle plates hingedly con nected to the lower edges of said adjustable plates for vertical adjustment therewith, said angle plates having their lower portions bent tonormally lie in horizontal planes for riding upon the surface of the ground alongside a row of plants, and springs connected to the horizontal portions of said hinged angle plates for normally holding them in horizontal position, and means connected to said vertically adjustable plates for adjusting them in unison.

6. In a boll weevil exterminator, a housing forming a suction chamber, supporting wheels carried by said housing means for creating an air suction upwardly through said housing, a receptacle carried by the housing for receiving insects and infected squares which are drawn upwardly by the air suction within the housing, a plate pivotally mounted within the housing and adapted to strike cotton plants upon passage of the housing thereover for agitating the plants to shake boll weevils and infected squares from the plants, a pair of hinged plates adjustably carried by the sides of said housing and having their lowermost portions bent inwardly at right angles to the sides of the housing for preventing loose dirt from being drawn upwardly into the housing, means connected to said hinged plates for normally holding their lower angled portions in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for limiting the upward movement of said horizontal portions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORACE V. STUBBS.

Witnesses:

W. S. GARNETT, M, E. CHAPMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

